The price of a dozen eggs in California has reached nearly $9 a dozen in some areas as demand continues to rise amid an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu.

In its overview of egg markets last week, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said the California benchmark for large shell eggs rose from $0.78 to $8.97 dollars per dozen, due to a reduction in supply.

These prices can be seen when shopping online eggs in supermarkets throughout the state.

For example, Walmart in Chico, Calif., on Tuesday night listed an 18-count box of Great Value cage-free large white eggs for $9.52, while a dozen of the same type of Great Value eggs were included at $7.22.

EGG PRICES ARE HIGHER AND WILL CONTINUE UNTIL 2025

Large amount of Cage Free eggs at CostCo Florida store. (Photo by: Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images/Getty Images)

At Safeway in the same city, an 18-count carton of Lucerne Farms Eggs Cage-Free Large White Eggs was listed for $12.99, although a dozen were not listed for sale on the company’s website. retailer

Walmart and Safeway’s parent company, Albertsons, did not immediately respond to FOX Business’ request for comment on egg pricing.

“Demand for shell eggs registered a slight increase in the last two weeks of the year, supported by concerns about tight supplies due to persistent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in layer flocks” , the USDA wrote. “These herd losses, reaching a critical demand point, have pushed wholesale prices past record levels set in December 2022 when HAPI outbreaks had a similar impact on the market.”

The FDA also reported this week that egg production in the US was down 4% in November as egg prices and bird flu cases continue to rise across the country.

THIS IS WHY WE TRADERS ARE RAISING PRICES

Test tubes labeled “bird flu” and eggs are seen in this image illustration. (Reuters/Dado Ruvic/Reuters Photos)

Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute sector manager Kevin Bergquist said egg prices have risen since 2023 due to a combination of seasonal price increases during the holidays and disruption in egg supply in cause of bird flu.

Prices over the past year have “generally” remained above 2023 prices and even “often exceeded egg prices from 2022, which is when the IAHP really captured the egg market eggs,” according to Bergquist.

Wholesale egg prices, which rose nearly 55% in November, do not necessarily reflect consumer eggs. grocery store prices, which can vary a lot.

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In the hands of a woman packing eggs in the supermarket (iStock/iStock)

According to the Consumer Price Index, grocery prices rose 0.5% in November, and four of the six major grocery store food groups increased their cost. Eggs showed the biggest increase by a wide margin.

Meat, poultry and fish prices rose 1.7% in November, but egg prices rose 8.2%.

Before the big bird flu outbreak by March 2022, flock numbers were at a level that supported lower egg prices, according to Bergquist. He noted that the wholesale price was less than $1.50 per dozen.

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However, the outbreak disrupted the market, leading to a record egg price in December 2022. The average price corrected to a lower level in 2023 as producers rebuilt their flocks.

Daniella Genovese of FOX Business contributed to this report.